In the words of Rebecca Muhindo: Availing opportunities to women affected by violent extremism enables them to rebuild their lives

Muhindo Rebecca, a resident of Kasese district in Uganda is one of the parents that lost their children during the rebel attacks on a school in June 2023 that left forty-two people, including 37 students, dead. UN Women, with funding from the Government of Norway, is working with Women’s Rights Organisations to, among others, ensure that women and youth living in at-risk locations for Violent Extremism gain skills, are employed and receive livelihood and entrepreneurial opportunities. Under this project UN Women, in partnership with Coalition for Action on 1325, trained Bwera United Disabled Women Association on preventing and countering violent extremism. Such skills have enabled community-based organisations like BUDWA to engage communities and provide much-needed psychosocial support to people who have been impacted by violent extremism.

The day the unthinkable happened was June 16th, 2023. Early that morning, an unexpected visitor brought news that would shatter my world. My son was among those killed in the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) attack on Lubriha Secondary School. Many bodies were burned beyond recognition, so I had to undergo a painful DNA test to identify his remains.

After burying him, my husband and I retreated into a shell of grief. We isolated ourselves, lost in a world of pain. I couldn’t bear to interact with anyone.

Then, a glimmer of hope appeared in the form of a team from Bwera United Disabled Women Association (BUDWA). During their first visit, their words felt distant, but with each follow up session, their message started to penetrate my despair. The counselling eased the trauma; slowly I began to regain some strength. Through these visits BUDWA introduced me to the idea of skills training, a way to rebuild my life.

I chose art and craft as an enterprise and this forced me to meet with others as part of training. As my hands became busy, weaving and creating, my heart began to mend. The process brought me back into the world, and I found myself connecting with others through training. I have now started earning a small income from selling my baskets, around 19 USD a week. I have now joined a VSLA (Village Savings and Loan Association) group where I am able to save on a weekly basis.

Looking back, I realize how crucial the support from BUDWA was. If I hadn’t taken that first step, I might still be trapped in the darkness of grief. I urge other women who’ve experienced similar pain to seek help and find ways to rebuild their lives.